Valmet PIK-23 Towmaster
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| PIK-23 Towmaster | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Type | Glider tower/primary trainer |
| Manufacturer | Valmet |
| Maiden flight | March 22, 1982 |
| Produced | 1982-83 |
| Number built | 2 |
| Developed from | PIK-19 Muhinu |
Valmet PIK-23 Towmaster or Suhinu is a Finnish twin-seated glider towing/primary trainer aircraft built entirely out of composite materials in the early 1980s.
The Finnish technology studenst aviation club suggested in the 1970s, that a new aircraft should be developed for glider towing. The work focused on the improvement of a previous design, the PIK-19 Muhinu. Later on, the Helsinki University of Technology and Valmet Oy joined the project and the design process started from scratch. The goal was to develop a target/glider tower, which also could be used for basic training. It was given the name "PIK-23 Towmaster".
Only two aircraft were manufactured, one at Valmet and one at the Helsinki University of Technology. The first aircraft, OH-TOW, made its maiden flight on March 22, 1982, flown by Mikko Järvi. The second aircraft, OH-TUG, flew the following year.
Valmet marketed the aircraft intensively, but no orders followed. It was also investigated if the aircraft could be sold in parts, for self-assembly, in order to lower the price. In its intended role as a glider tower, the PIK-23 has been quite successful.
[edit] Specifications (PIK-23)
Data from {}[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 7.19 m (ft in)
- Wingspan: 10 m (ft in)
- Height: 2.9 m (ft in)
- Wing area: m² (ft²)
- Empty weight: kg (lb)
- Loaded weight: kg (lb)
- Useful load: kg (kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 870 kg (lb)
- Powerplant: 1× , kW (hp)
Performance
- Never exceed speed: km/h (knots, mph)
- Maximum speed: 250 km/h (knots, mph)
- Cruise speed: km/h (knots, mph)
- Stall speed: km/h (knots, mph)
- Range: 1,250 km (nm, mi)
- Service ceiling: 3,650 m (ft)
- Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
- Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: W/kg (hp/lb)
